Which are ways to live longer? Does the gene decide the duration of your life? Being born in a family with history of longevity, you have more possibilities of living longer. But just basing on this, a longer life is not guaranteed completely.

You can start with attitude. Being a positive e thinker can not only impact the quality of your life, but can contribute to how long you can live. In 2002, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., found that optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by 50 percent compared with those who leaned more towards pessimism.

Also stress can affect the immune system and cause a variety of health issues. You cannot avoid stress in your life, but knowing how to handle the stress and remain positive can help contribute to a longer and healthier life. Did you know that owning a pet can help in handling stress? Rebecca Johnson, a professor of gerontological nursing at the University of Missouri at Columbia, showed that interaction with pets does, in fact, reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

And having a pet may add years to your life. One of the first studies in this arena, which appeared in “Public Health Reports” in 1980, showed that the survival rates of heart attack victims who had a pet were 28 percent higher than those of patients who didn’t have an animal companion. “The health effects seem to be very real and by no means mystical,” says Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University. “Contact with companion animals triggers a relaxation response,” he says. Another factor in living longer is not being overweight. Research shows that obesity can lead to medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and various cancers. So powerful are certain lifestyle choices that recommended diets along with maintenance of physical activity and appropriate body mass can, over time, reduce the incidence of cancer by 30 percent to 40 percent, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Avoid smoking and eating too much sugar. Both of these weaken the bodies immune system which can contribute to health issues.

Exercising at least 30 minutes a day has shown to strengthen the immune system and may increase your chances of a longer life. And last of all learn how to life each day. Don’t take things so seriously that you are angry and negative as this affects your overall well-being.

For more helpful information on living longer go to: http://www.longlifenews.com